Board of Directors & Management

The Board

David Schultz – MIEAust, CPEng, GAICD

Appointed 1st October 2011 (Chair)

David Schultz is a Civil Engineer and holds a Company Director Diploma. He is a non-Executive Director of Life Saving Victoria. David, along with his wife Jan and family, has owned a holiday house in Inverloch for over 30 years. He has been actively involved with the Inverloch Surf Life Saving Club since it started in 1998, being a member of the first patrol and President of the club from 1999 until 2006. David is also a life member of the Inverloch Surf Life Saving Club. Previously,

David held various executive roles with GHD Global including Practice Leader of the management consulting practice and Senior Project Director Middle East.

Anna Kilborn – BSc, GAICD

Appointed 1st October 2011 (Deputy Chair)

Anna Kilborn is an environmental scientist with over 25 years’ experience in integrated planning and stakeholder engagement. She holds a Bachelor of Science and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors course. Anna is currently a member of the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council and has previously served as a member of the Regional Development Australia Gippsland Committee. She is committed to promoting integrated planning and sustainability in the Gippsland region.

Jim Fawcett CPA

Appointed 1st October 2007

Jim Fawcett is a certified practicing accountant in a local accounting firm for over 30 years. During that time, he has also had extensive involvement with local community and sporting groups. He is a former Board Member and President of Woorayl District Memorial Hospital and its successor Gippsland Southern Health Service. He is a past Councillor and Mayor of South Gippsland Shire Council.

Mr Christopher Rose

Appointed 1st October 2017

Christopher Rose is a Director and Founder of ThreePipe Consulting Pty Ltd. He has more than 30 years’ experience in public land management, 11 years’ executive management experience and acted as Chief Executive Officer of Parks Victoria for one year. He is currently a Director of the Victorian Fisheries Authority and also sits on the National Parks and Wildlife Advisory Council, and has previously held directorships of Alpine Tourism (Deputy Chair), Destination Gippsland, the Gippsland Coastal Board, and the Alpine Resorts Coordinating Council. Chris holds a Bachelor of Forest Science. He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Williamson Community Leadership Program.

Dr Irene Irvine

Appointed 1st October 2012

Irene Irvine operates her own consultancy providing strategic support to the education and not-for-profit sectors since retiring as Pro Vice Chancellor Deakin University. An experienced company director, Irene currently chairs South Gippsland Shire’s Audit Committee and is Deputy Chair of Karingal Disability Services. Her past roles have included Chair of Phillip Island Nature Parks, Deputy Chair of Zoos Victoria and Director of State Trustees, Open Gardens Australia and Craft Victoria. Irene has lived part time in South Gippsland for over 20 years. She holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours), a Graduate Diploma Administration, a Doctor of Philosophy, a Diploma of Education, is a graduate of Leadership Victoria (Williamson Community Leadership Program) and has completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors course.

Geoff Lake

Appointed 1st October 2015

Geoff Lake is a barrister at the Victorian Bar. He is the chair of Vision Super and a councillor and former mayor of the City of Monash. Geoff is also a director of the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees and the Municipal Association of Victoria. He has previously served as president of the Australian Local Government Association and the Municipal Association of Victoria and is past board member of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade.

Kate Young

Appointed 1st October 2015

Kate Young is a town planner at Crowther & Sadler. Kate is currently on the Board at Gippsland Grammar, chairing the Governance Committee, and is a former Director of the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority. Kate also served on the Gippsland Lakes Ministerial Advisory Committee and East Gippsland Shire Inundation and Adaption Management Project Steering Group Committee. Kate has a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology), post graduate qualifications in Planning and Environment, Arts (Criminology) and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors course.

Susan Friend

Appointed 1st October 2017

Sue Friend is a Chartered Accountant and Consulting Director at Sapere Research Group. She has held senior roles in global accounting firms and smaller consultancies. Sue is currently a board member of Melbourne Market Authority and Chair of the Financial Audit and Risk Management committee. Sue was previously on the board of Yarra Valley Water from 2010 to 2017 and was a member of the Risk Management & Audit Committee (including Chair from 2012 to 2016) and its Sustainability, Planning, Infrastructure & Regulation Committee. Sue also holds independent audit committee roles with the Municipal Association of Victoria and County Court Victoria. Ms Friend holds a Bachelor of Commerce, a Bachelor of Laws, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Role of The Board

The Board of Directors, who are appointed by the Minister for Water, operate under the provisions of the Water Act 1989 and have responsibility for the governance of the Corporation, to provide strategic direction and accountability for the performance of South Gippsland Water. Responsibility for ongoing operation and implementation of strategy is delegated to the Managing Director and Senior Management Team.

Our Management Team

Managing Director – Philippe du Plessis

Philippe is responsible for direction of the Management Team and the corporate and strategic functions of South Gippsland Water. These include strategic relationships, strategic marketing, the Corporation’s performance and image, information technology, OH&S, awareness of future trends in the water industry and contact with the Corporation’s key stakeholders.

General Manager Corporate Services – Jessica Armstrong

Jessica manages finance and accounting and risk management. The key responsibility of the General Manager Corporate Services is that of custodian of the Corporation’s assets and financial resources on behalf of all stakeholders.

General Manager Infrastructure and Planning – Mark Lynch
Mark is responsible for the planning, direction and management of the Corporation’s Capital Works Program incorporating a broad range of projects. Other functions under this role include asset management, managing the Corporation’s Urban Water Strategy including the Drought Response Program, and engineering and technical services.

General Manager Operations – Ravi Raveendran

Ravi manages the Corporation’s operational functions including Water Treatment Plants, Waste Water Treatment Plants, and water and wastewater services delivery infrastructure. His responsibilities include compliance with water and wastewater quality guidelines, ongoing quality monitoring, operations improvement, site safety, environment and catchment management, and specialist services to major customers.

General Manager People, Culture and Customer – Annette Katiforis

Newly established in April 2017, the General Manager People, Culture and Customer role provides strategic advice and programs relating to: leadership and management capability, diversity and inclusion and other cultural focuses; workforce planning and design; contemporary human resources operations; and, contemporary and attuned customer service strategy and operations.